Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi leads the ...religion.syr.edu/courses/Fall2017_pdfs/REL327F17.pdf · 11. 13: Taking Eliade’s Yoga: Immortality and Freedom as a history of

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REL 327 (currently listed as 300.4)

MW 3:45PM - 5:05PM Shaffer Art Building 121

Joanne Punzo Waghorne, Professor of Religion (B.A. Religion, Wilson College, MA/Ph.D. History

of Religions, South Asian Studies, Divinity School University of Chicago) Current interests: Rise of spiritual movements in contemporary Asia; globalization and

urbanization, contemporary theory in the study of religion, contemporary Hinduism. Office hours: HL 521 (In the central staircase) Mondays 11:00 to 12:30 or by appointment Email: [email protected] (I check my email frequently). This is the best and quickest way to contact me. Please do not leave message on my office phone—its hopeless. Description: In this course, “Yoga” will also be closely associated with meditation movements as well as a whole gambit of practices within educational institutions called “Wisdom Research,” “Contemplative Studies.” Syracuse University has a “Contemplative Collaborative” with faculty and student members from throughout the university. Also,

closely allied with “yoga” are dance and performance, and physical therapy. The term YOGA,

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi leads the International Day of Yoga on the capital mall New Delhi June 21, 2015 Straits Times Singapore and Isha Yoga offers lessons in the Ion Station Mall Singapore on the same day.

Chicago Window--photo by K.Soffer

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then, works within a complex of meanings and associations as well as contexts—from popular media, to the political, to the medical, and psychological. Yoga is now global and must be considered in this context as well. And, yoga remains controversial. Issues: £ Who “owns” Yoga? -- What are the origins of modern yoga?

Although yoga appears everywhere now in almost every form, questions linger over its origins. Is the yoga practiced and understood today a direct descendent of ancient Indian yoga? Recently the American Hindu Foundation launched a Take Back Yoga movement, which attracted the attention of the New York Times. On June 21, 2015, Prime Minister Modi firmly claimed yoga as Indian by leading a carefully organized worldwide demonstrations including leading a yoga session on the lawn of the capital buildings in Delhi.

The question of “ownership” moves yoga into economics, religious identity, and politics but also historical research.

£ Does modern yoga have antecedents in other parts of Asia or even within Europe?

Recently the Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian mounted an amazing art collection depicting yoga, Yoga: The Art of Transformation, October 2013–January, 2014. The website affirms the early complexity and diversity of yoga and showed Muslims in India studying and practicing yoga. As India claims yoga as its own, the question of origins moves from history to national interests and pride, but the question remains, is yoga Hindu? In addition, we will read Mark Singleton who argues the fitness and natural health movements in Europe contributed to the perception and the practice of yoga in Europe and America, which was then re-exported this back to India.

£ Who brought Yoga to the United State and the United Kingdom?

£ How do we “study” yoga? — A Difficult Balance

Today many yoga instructors and popular gurus argue that yoga is rooted in experience not in rational learning. However, yoga has a long history within religious texts including the famous Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali, which outlines practices but also interprets meaning of yoga. Now even in the context of its turn from rationality, yoga as part of Contemplative Pedagogy and Mindfulness increasingly enters the classroom as a form of learning. Interestingly most of the excitement seems to be located in psychology, especially clinical and counseling, in education, and medical schools, interestingly with much less input and enthusiasm from religious studies departments. £ How scientific is Yoga?

The painting here depicts the great Mughal Emperor Jahangir, a Muslim, conferring with a famous yogi (ca1620) which is the same time that Boston was settled

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One the recurring themes in contemporary yoga is that scientific research can confirm results—so unlike “religion”—yoga is by its nature scientific. This is a crucial theme since the practice of yoga is allowed in public schools while the practice of religion is not. £ How closely related is yoga to “religion”?

Hey this course is RELIGION 327—so I place yoga with in a broad understanding of religion—but we will need to consider this. NOTE: While I have learned many forms of yoga as part of my research on spiritual movements in Asia especially Singapore, I cannot claim to be a practitioner—my body just cannot work this way—many of you may have far more practical experience/ What I bring is a familiarity with Hinduism and Hindu-based texts, long research with various new age and yoga-based organizations—which always requires involvement beyond just study. Required Books Patañjali. (ca100 BCE to 100 CE). The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali: A New Edition, Translation, and

Commentary by Edwin F. Bryant. New York: North Point Press, 2009 Singleton, Mark. 2010. Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice. New York: Oxford

University Press Both books have a Kindle Edition, which is less expensive but purchase the paper—so

you will have this in class or alternately bring good notes. Mircea Eliade, Yoga: Immortality and Freedom. Trans. Willard R. Trask. Princeton University

Press; With a New introduction by David Gordon White edition (July 26, 2009) ISBN-13: 978-0691142036 paper. Origin version in French Le yoga: immortalité et liberté. Paris, Payot, 1954. (From his dissertation in the 1930s)

Plus, required readings on Blackboard and 2 very inexpensive Kindle books Other important books on Yoga for you reference: Joseph S. Alter, Yoga in Modern India: The Body between Science and Philosophy, 2004 Andrea Jain, Selling Yoga: From Counterculture to Pop Culture, 2015 Gurus of Modern Yoga edited by Ellen Goldberg and Mark Singleton, 2014 Course Policies Please Read Carefully now!

£ Attendance is required at all class sessions. I can allow only 2 unexcused absences total. Please plan your schedule to allow for religious holidays within this allowance. Because this is a MW class, those on sports teams should not be affected. However, if you take any class days for sports events (with proper documentation), then I can allow NO unexcused absences in addition to your sports commitments if these go over 2.

£ An excused absence means that you have emailed me and received approval for absences in advance due to special circumstances. Please if you speak to me in class--confirm any conversation with an email. In case of illness, you must talk to afterwards. The policy of the Health services is to provide a note only when the student has been advised to miss classes.

£ Common Courtesy: (I should not have to mention these points but sad experience makes this necessary.) The class begins at 3:45. Please be on time. If you have a tight connection between classes sit accordingly. All cell phones, tablets are to be turned entirely off including text messaging and all I-pods shut down. I have also decided to exclude computers from the class-- new research has shown that taking notes in class by using paper and pen or pencil is the most effective

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way of learning! AND contemplative studies seem at odd with a constant barrage of digital chatter.

£ Academic Integrity: I expect the work you present to be totally your own with all sources, which you have used, fully acknowledged. I will provide full instructions as to citation and form. I am willing to help you if you have any doubts. If I find any evidence of academic dishonesty of any kind, I will report the incident to the Academic Integrity Office. The sanctions will include lowered your grade, or result in failure for the entire course depended on the severity. Please check http://academicintegrity.syr.edu for more information.

£ Disability Accommodations: “If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) located at 804 University Avenue, third floor or go to the ODS website at disabilityservices.syr.edu and click current students tab to register on-line. You may also call 315.443.4498 to speak to someone regarding specific access needs. ODS is responsible for coordinating disability-related accommodations and will issue ‘Accommodation Letters’ to students as appropriate. Since accommodations may require early planning and are not provided retroactively, please contact ODS as soon as possible.”

Requirements: 1. Not simply attendance, but also active reading, listening, and participation in class. I expect that all reading for the week will be complete by the Wednesday class. I will occasionally give a short quiz on the reading. NOTICE THAT CLASS PARTICIPATION IS 30 POINTS 2. The major requirements are 4 short papers during the term, and a field research project at the end with an oral presentation in groups and individual final papers. I WILL NOT GIVE EXTENSION ON PAPERS• 3. On the fieldwork projects: The final project will ask you to work in groups on a contemporary yoga movements in Syracuse or if you have accesses—in any city. Some Topics

• Who “owns” yoga? • What is the history of yoga within the ancient Hindu tradition?

o What is the difference between mediation and postural yoga? • What happened to Yogis at the time Europeans encountered India in the 17th century? • What elements of European and American heath/fitness movements refined and

reconstructed yoga? • What are Contemplative studies, Wisdom research, and Mindfulness studies and how do

these relate to how we “study” yoga? • How has experimental science changed the public perceptions of yoga? • What is the current state of such research? • History of the introduction of yoga into America • Contemporary yoga movements, global and local

4 papers @10 points each 40 points Classroom participation and work Including quizzes 30 points Oral presentation of research project 10 points Final paper on research project 20 points

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SCHEDULE: subject to change with reasonable notice Week 01. Aug 28 –Aug 30: Considering the International Day of Yoga—what was this and what did such an event mean for yoga?

Reading: Wendy Doniger, “Assume the Position: The Fight over Yoga” in On Hinduism (pp116-

125). New York: Oxford University Press, 2014 (ON BLACKBOARD) Week 02. Sept 4(holiday), Sept 6: Controversies over the origins of yoga

Reading: Mark Singleton, Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Yoga. New York: Oxford,

2010. Introduction and Brief Overview, pp. 1-33. Edwin Bryant, The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali. New York: North Point Press, 2009.

“The History of Yoga” pp. xvii-xliii Paper 1 due Monday Sept 11, 2017 at 10 am PART ONE: THE HISTORY OF YOGA IN INDIA--ancient Week 03. Sept. 11. 13: Taking Eliade’s Yoga: Immortality and Freedom as a history of yoga within

ancient Hindu practices Reading: Mircea Eliade, Yoga: Immortality and Freedom Origin version in French Le yoga;

immortalité et liberté. Paris, Payot, 1954. (From his dissertation in the 1930s) Read: SLOWLY Forward, Chapter 1, “Doctrines of Yoga”; then skim Chapter 3 “Yoga and Brāhmanism”

Week 04. Sept. 18, 20: Eliade introduces and interprets the TECHNIQUES

Reading: SLOWLY Chapter 2, Techniques for Autonomy” Week 05. Sept. 25,27: READING PATAÑJALI

From The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali Bryant:“The Subject Matter of the Yoga Sūtra” pp. xlv-lviii

*Warning this is short but not sweet I recommend taking it with an aspirin.

Note that Edwin Bryant does not simply translate the text but provide a sometimes-long commentary on each verse—here he is following the traditional way a scripture is read in India—slowly verse-by-verse with the master-here our scholar-explaining the importance and meaning of the text. Bryant summarizes older commentaries and provides his own. THEN READ VERY SLOWLY PAGES 3-21 TO GET THE FEEL OF THE WORK. WE WILL DO MORE IN CLASS. Paper 2 due MONDAY Oct 2 at 10:00 am

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PART TWO: GETTING TO THE CASES—LOOKING AN EXAMPLE OF CONTEMPORARY “YOGA” MOVEMENTS Week 06. Oct 2, 4: Origins of modern yoga in the 19th century Reading is from Mark Singleton, who has encounter sharp criticism for his presentation of yoga and yogis in the 18th and early 19th centuries as a kind of circus act—His argument is more complicated. Reading: Singleton: chapter 2, “Fakirs, Yogins, Europeans”; chapter 3 “Popular Portrayals of the Yogin”; Chapter 6, “Yoga as Physical Culture I: Strength and Vigor”.

Week 07. Oct 9, 11: Introduction of Yoga into America—some history and context

Readings: ON BLACKBOARD Stefanie Syman, The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010 (Syman is a professional writer, not an academic—very readable) 3-79 Lola Williamson, Transcendent in America: Hindu-Inspired Meditation Movements as New Religion, New York: New York University Press, 2010 3-25

The questions for this week: How did yoga come to America? What cultural and religious sensibilities were already here?

Generally what forces worked on yoga as it transformed from its Indian roots to new American context?

So, our questions are historical but also conceptual—what are the best ways to describe the process of what Williamson names as “Acculturation— we will see these same issue with reading from Yogananda and Iyengar but now is the time to generalize---see if there is a pattern. Monday: Syman 3-36 Wednesday: Syman 36-79, Williamson 3-25.

Week 08. Oct 16, 18: Introducing the famous Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda Autobiography of a Yogi (Self-Realization Fellowship) Apr 23, 2014

by Paramahansa Yogananda Selected chapter from the autobiography Kindle version is $1.99 Plus videos in class Marc Benioff on the Invisible Hand of Steve Jobs | Disrupt SF 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rO_Vs4M29k (1a) My 1947 encounter with Paramahansa Yogananda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCDQFgPuDlc

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Week 09. Oct 23, 25: B.K.S Iyengar Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom

Sep 19, 2006 by B.K.S. Iyengar and John J. Evans Kindle version is 2.99 PAPER 3 due on Blackboard MONDAY Oct 30, 2017 at 10 am.

PART THREE: ENTER SCIENCE AND MINDFULNESS, CONTEMPLATIVE STUDIES AND WISDOM RESEARCH Week 10 Oct 30, Nov 1: Considering Mindfulness pedagogy (teaching techniques) as a part of “Yoga”

This course will be listed in the new Minor in Mindfulness and Contemplative Sciences in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. As part of the emerging Contemplative Practices and Studies Center at SU, an evaluation of teaching practices has become important. I think this is all part of a general trend toward a “yoga culture” in the US—i.e. a willingness to take this all seriously in some way, now as part of the university system.

Reading: David P. Barbezat and Mirabai Bush, Contemplative Practices in Higher Education (2014) Monday: Chapter 1 and 2—1-38 Weds: 89-109 which are actually suggested practices-

In all of this reading consider in what ways yoga figures in this Mindfulness movement and HOW?

Reading are on Blackboard Week 11. Nov.6, 8: Yoga and Science—very contemporary studies The readings for this week are both simple and dense. The first is a New York Times best seller:

William J. Broad, The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards (2012) Prologue 1-11 Chapter III, Modes THEN: much denser – read with aspirin: Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spiritualty edited by Lisa J. Miller (2014) Introduction (1-4), Chapter 1- and 2 (7-35)

Reading are on Blackboard Paper 4 due Monday November 13 at 10:00 am Week 12. Nov 13, 14: Field Research week: YOGA IN CENTRAL NEW YORK THANKSGIVING WEEK Week 14: Nov 27, 28 Week 15: Dec 4- Dec 6 FINAL PAPER DUE ON BLACKBOARD: I WILL GIVE YOU UNTIL 11:59 PM on the day the final exam is scheduled for this class 12/15/2017, Friday